Containerization of tetrahedronshaped packages



g- 1968 J. w. MORRIS ET AL 3,396,507

CONTAINERIZATION OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES Fi led May 4, 1966 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1968 J. w. MORRIS ET AL 3 5 CONTAINERIZATION OFTETRAHEDRQN-SHAPED PACKAGES e Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1966 1968 J.w. MORRIS ET AL 3,396,507

CONTAINERIZATION OP TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES Filed May 4, 1966 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 13, 1968 J, w. MORRIS ET AL 3,396,507

CONTAINERIZATION OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES 6 SheetsS'neet 4 FiledMay 4, 1966 g- 13, 1968 J. w. MORRIS ET AL 3,396,507

CONTAINERIZATION OF TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledMay 4, 1966 United States Patent 3,396,507 CONTAINERIZATION 0FTETRAHEDRON- SHAPED PACKAGES James W. Morris, Framingham, and Harold T.Crossley, Foxboro, Mass., assignors to Packaging Frontiers, Inc.,

Waltham, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No.547,649 Claims. (Cl. 53142) This invention relates to thecontainerization of tetrahedron-shaped packages, and more particularlyto apparatus for automatically packing such packages in rectangularcontainers.

The invention is particularly concerned with a containerization oftetrahedron-shaped packages produced in quantity production by machinessuch as shown, for example, in the copending coassigned Wagner et al.US. patent application Ser. No. 261,795, filed Feb. 28, 1963, and thecoassigned Murray US. Patent 3,221,469, issued Dec. 7, 1965. It isdesirable that apparatus be provided for automatically packing thepackages in cartons or boxes. One type of pack which has been foundparticularly suitable for tetrahedron-shaped packages is a type that maybe referred to as the fan-pack, in which a rectangular container, suchas a cardboard carton or tray of square outline in plan, is packed withpackages arranged in sets each shaped like a fan, each set consisting ofa plurality of packages with one end of each package in the set at theapex of the fan and the other ends of the packages in the setconstituting the outer edge of the fan, a first set being positioned inthe container with its apex at a first corner of the container, a secondset being positioned in the container overlying the first set with itsapex at a second corner of the container, a third set being positionedin the container overlying the second set with its apex at a thirdcorner of the container, and a fourth set being positioned in thecontainer overlying the third set and with its apex at the fourth cornerof the container. Such a pack is disclosed in the copending coassignedBoynton US. patent application Ser. No. 185,326, filed Apr. 5, 1962, nowPatent No. 3,250,386. A prior apparatus for fan-packingtetrahedron-shaped packages in such manner is shown in the copendingcoassigned Anderson U.S. patent application Ser. No. 268,265, filed Mar.27, 1963, now Patent No. 3,282,024. Among the several objects of thepresent invention may be noted the provision of improved apparatus forautomatically effecting the fan-packing of tetrahedron-shaped packagesin rectangular containers at a rapid rate, involving the feeding ofpackages forward in a predetermined generally horizontal path with thepackages lined up in rows extending longitudinally with respect to thedirection of feed and with the end seals at the leading ends of thepackages upright, arresting packages, one from each row, and forming thepackages into a fan, and transferring each fan to a container afterformation of the fan. Other objects and features will be in partapparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan of a first version of the fan-packing apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a detail of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan of a second version of the fan-packing apparatus ofthis invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of FIG. 4;

3,396,507 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 FIG. 6 is a plan of a third version ofthe fan-packing apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in elevation on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

and

FIG. 9 is a plan of a fourth version of the fan-packing apparatus ofthis invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate several views of thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings, first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is indicated at1 an endless belt conveyor trained around horizontal rolls, one of whichis indicated at 3, to have an upper horizontal reach 5, whichconstitutes its working reach, and a lower horizontal reach 7, whichconstitutes its return reach. The belt is continuously driven by anysuitable drive such as indicated at 9 for travel of its working reachfrom left to right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The working reach 5 of thebelt conveyor is adapted to feed tetrahedron-shaped packages P forwardwith the packages lined up in a plurality of side-by-side rows extendinglongitudinally of the conveyor, and with the packages in each row spacedfrom one another lengthwise of the conveyor. As shown in FIG. 1, thereare three such rows, designated R1, R2 and R3, for forming fansconsisting of three packages each. The packages may be alignedtransversely of the conveyor in groups of three, but it will beunderstood that such transverse alignment is not essential.

Each package P, as is conventional, comprises a tube having seals E1 andE2 at its ends with these end seals at right angles to one another(accounting for the tetrahedron-shape of the package). The packages lieon the upper reach of the conveyor with the end seals E1 at the leadingends of the packages extending upward from the conveyor. Packages P aredelivered from the machine (not shown) by means of which they areproduced to the conveyor 1 by a delivery conveyor and a diverter (notshown). The delivery conveyor is, for example, an endless belt conveyorof relatively narrow width, and delivers packages in single file oneafter another to the diverter, with the end seals E1 of the packages atthe leading ends of the packages and standing up in a vertical plane.The diverter, which is a conventional commercially available unit suchas an Illumitronic Channelizer, Model CH 31220, sold by lllumitronicSystems Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif, is adapted to allow certainpackages to proceed straight ahead to form the center row R2 of packageson conveyor 1, to divert other packages to one side to form row R2, andto divert still other packages to the other side to form row R3.

The packages P on the working reach 5 of belt conveyor 1 are conveyedthereby in rows R1, R2 and R3 toward the leading end of reach 5 (itsright-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 where the belt conveyer istrained around roll 3). Just before a group of three packages (one fromeach row) reaches the leading end of the working reach 5 of the beltconveyor 1 the group of three is caught in a V-shaped collector 11overlying reach 5 adjacent its said leading end and formed into a fantherein. As shown herein, the tetrahedron-shaped packages P are what arecalled 30 tetrahedrons, so that three of them fan together in a fanhaving a subtended angle of at its apex. Collector 11 accordingly hastwo arms 13 branching at 90 from its apex 15. It is mounted in fixedhorizontal position above the working reach 5 of the conveyor 1 with itsapex 15 in the plane of the central row R2 of packages and toward theleading end of the conveyor and with its arms 13 branching out at 45angles to the plane of the central row R2 by means of a bracket 17 whichextends rearward from a post 19 ex- 3 tending upward from base 21 of theapparatus outward of and adjacent the leading end of the conveyor.

As will be seen, the packages in the central row R2 move forward withthe working reach of conveyor 1 in line with the apex of the collector.Arms 13 of the collector are of such length as to extend beyond andintersect the planes of the two outer rows R1 and R3 of packages.Consequently, as any given package of central row R2 reaches thecollector, the leading end seal E1 of this package engages the apex ofthe collector and is arrested in a central position in the collector.The leading end seals E1 of the two corresponding packages in the outerrows R1 and R3 engage the arms 13 at points 13a and, since these twopackages continue to be urged forward by the conveyor 1 (which travelscontinuously), they are caused to wedge into the collector on oppositesides of the central package, so that the three packages are collectedin the collector as a fan F. End seals E1 of the three packagesconstitute the apex of the fan, and end seals E2 of the three packagesconstitute the outer edge of the fan.

At 23 is indicated means for holding a container C in fan-receivingposition outward of and adjacent the leading end of the working reach 5of the conveyor 1. As illustrated, this comprises a platform 25 on theupper end of a vertical shaft 27 extending up from an indexing drivemechanism indicated at 29 adapted rotatably to index the shaft andplatform in 90 intervals. The shaft is located in the plane of centralrow R2 (the central plane of conveyor 1). The container C is shown as asquare open-topped carton. The four corners of the carton are designatedC1, C2, C3 and C4. The indexing drive is adapted intermittently to indexthe platform around in 90 index intervals to four indexed positions, inthe first of which corners C1 and C3 are located in the central plane ofthe conveyor with C3 toward and C1 away from the conveyor, in the secondof which corners C2 and C4 are located in the central plane of theconveyor with C4 toward and C2 away from the conveyor, in the third ofwhich corners C3 and C1 are located in the central plane of the conveyorwith C1 toward and C3 away from the conveyor, and in the fourth of whichcorners C4 and C2 are in the central plane of the conveyor with C2toward and C4 away from the conveyor.

At 31 is indicated means for effecting transfer to the container of fanscollected in the collector 11. This transfer means is shown to comprisewhat amounts in effect to a parallelogram linkage 33 including an upperarm 35 pivoted at 37 on the post 19 and a lower arm 39 pivoted at 41 onthe post for swinging movement on horizontal axes which extendtransversely with respect to the conveyor. Pivot 41 is directly belowpivot 37. The outer free ends of the arms are connected by a bar 43parallel to the post, pivotal connections between the arms and this barbeing indicated at 45 and 47. A bracket 49 extends horizontally from bar43 and transversely with respect to the conveyor and has three holestherein with a vertically extending sleeve 51 fixed in each hole (seealso FIG. 4). Vertically slidable in each sleeve is a tubular rod 53. Atthe lower end of each rod is a rubber vacuum gripper cup 55. Flexiblevacuum lines 57 are connected to the upper ends of the rods. The rodsare adapted to slide downward freely in the sleeves. Collars 59 on therods are engageable with the upper ends of the sleeves 51 for limitingthe downward sliding of the rods.

The location of pivots 37 and 41 and the length of arms 35 and 39 {frompivots 37 and 41 to pivots 45 and 47 are such that the parallelogramlinkage is swingable between the fan pick-up position illustrated insolid lines in FIG. 2, wherein the vacuum gripper cups at the lower endsof rods 53 are engaged with the three packages P caught and formed intoa fan F in collector 11, and the fan placement position illustrated indotted lines in FIG. 2, wherein the fan F picked up by the rods isplaced in the container C with the apex of the fan at that corner of thecontainer which is in the central plane of the conveyor and away fromthe conveyor. At 61 is indicated means for swinging the parallelogramlinkage between its stated positions, shown as comprising an aircylinder 63 having its piston rod 65 connected to a crank 67 on a gear69 in mesh with a gear 71 on pivot 41.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. l-3, packages P arecontinuously conveyed forward in rows R1, R2 and R3 on the upper workingreach 5 otf belt conveyor 1 toward the collector 11. At the start of anygiven cycle of operation, container C on platform 25 is empty. Linkage33 occupies a position such that the lower ends of rods 53 with thevacuum gripper cups 55 thereon are clear of packages moving into thecollector. As soon as the first group of three packages P is caught inthe collector 11, and arranged into fan F therein, linkage 33 is swungover a fan pick-up position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, bringingvacuum gripper cups 55 down into engagement with the upper faces of thethree packages in the fan caught in the collector. Vacuum applied to thegripper cups via vacuum lines 57 and the tubular rods 53 causes thepackages to be gripped to the lower ends of the rods. The linkage isthen swung over to its fan placement position, shown in dotted lines inFIG. 2, the fan F of three packages gripped to the cups at the lowerends of the rods thereby being carried over to the container C andplaced therein with the apex of the fan at the first corner C1 of thecontainer. The vacuum in the cups 55 is out off and the cups are ventedfor release of the packages so that the cups may retu-m empty to pick upa second Ifan.

While placement of the first fan is occurring as above described, asecond group of three packages P is being conveyed forward on the upperworking reach of the conveyor 1 and is caught in the collector 11 toform a second rfan. As soon as this occurs, linkage 33 (havingtransferred the first fan to the container) is swung back to pick up thesecond fan. As it swings back, the plat-form 25 is indexed around tobring corner C2 into the loading position. After the linkage 33 has beenswung back to fan pick-up position and cups 55 have gripped the threepackages in the second fan, the linkage swings over to fan placementposition to place the second fan in the container with the apex of thesecond fan in corner C2 of the container, and with the second fanoverlying the first fan. The vacuum in the cups 55 is cut off and thecups are vented for release of the packages so that the cups may returnempty to pick up a third fan.

While placement of the second fan is occurring as above described, athird group of three packages P is being conveyed forward on the upperworking reach of the conveyor 1 and is caught in the collector 11 toform a third fan. As soon as this occurs, linkage 33 (having transferredthe second fan to the container) is swung back to pick up the third fan.As it swings back, the platform 25 is indexed 90 to bring corner C3 intothe loading position. After the linkage has been swung back to fanpick-up position and cups 55 have gripped the three packages in thethird fan, the linkage swings over to fan placement position to placethe third tfan in the container with the apex of the third fan in cornerC3 of the container, and with the third 'fan overlying the second fan.The vacuum in the cups 55 is cut off and the cups are vented for releaseof the packages so that the cups may return empty to pick up a fourthfan.

While placement of the third fan is occurring as above described, afourth group of three packages P is being conveyed forward on the upperworking reach of the conveyor 1 and is caught in the collector 11 toform a fourth fan. As soon as this occurs, linkage 33 (havingtransferred the third fan to the container) is swung back to pick up thefourth fan. As it swings back, the platform is indexed 90 to bringcorner C4 into the loading position. After the linkage has been swungback to fan pick-up position and cups '55 have gripped the threepackages in the ttourth fan, the linkage swings over to fan placementposition to place the fourth fan in the container with the apex of thefourth fan in corner C4 of the container, and with the fourth fanoverlying the third fan. The vacuum in the cups 55 is cut off and thecups are vented for release of the packages so that the cups may returnempty to pick up the first fan of the next series. The packed containerC is removed and a fresh container C placed ,on the platform 25.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the above in which, insteadof picking up the fan by means of the vacuum gripper cups 55, thecollector 11 is raised to allow the fan F (after its formation in thecollector) to be conveyed by the belt conveyer 1 and fed into thecontainer C olf the end of the working reach 5 of the belt conveyor. Asshown therein, the platform 25 is located below the level of the workingreach 5 to hold the container in position for sliding entry of fans, anda slide 81 is provided at the leading end of reach 5 down which fans mayslide into the container. The collector 11 is shown as mounted on an arm83 pivoted at 85 on a post 87 which extends up from base 21 at one sideof the platform 25, leaving the way clear for fans to slide down theslide into the container C. Means such as the air cylinder indicated at89 is provided for swinging the collector 11 between the loweredpackage-catching position in which it is shown in solid lines in FIG. 5and the raised release position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 abovethe fan F caught in the collector to permit the fan to move forward. Afan sliding down the slide into the container is shown in phantom inFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a further modification of the above in which awider endless belt conveyor, designated 1a, is used to feed packages Pforward in four columns A1, A2, A3 and A4, each consisting of three rowsof packages R1, R2 and R3. Extending transversely with respect to theconveyor In at its leading end is an endless horizontal chain conveyor91 carrying a series of platforms 25a (which correspond to platform 25)at equal intervals around its periphery corresponding to the spacing ofcolumns A1-A4. Conveyor 91 has an intermittent index drive indicated at93 in FIG. 6 for indexing it successively to carry each platform intoposition at six successive stations designated SA, SB, S1, S2, S3 andS4. Stations SA and SB are container loading stations where containersare applied to the platforms. Stations S1, S2, S3 and S4 are packageloading stations in line, respectively, with columns A1, A2, A3 and A4.The platforms 25a are mounted on shafts 95 rotatably mounted on theconveyor 91.

Each platform, at stations SA and SB, occupies a loading positionsquared off with respect to the conveyor with two sides extending in thedirection of the length of the conveyor and its other two sidestransverse to the the conveyor. Means is provided for indexing eachplatform through a 45 interval of rotation as it travels from station SBto station S1 to bring it into a diagonal position relative to theconveyor, for indexing it through a 90 interval of rotation as it passesfrom station S1 to S2, through another 90 interval of rotation as itpasses from station S2 to S3, through another 90 interval of rotation asit passes from station S3 and S4, and then through a 45 interval ofrotation to bring it back to its initial position for stations SA andSB. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this means for rotatably indexing theplatforms comprises a Geneva wheel 97 on each shaft, a series of pins99, 101, 103 and 105 which are fixed with respect to each conveyor andlocated at stations S1, S2, S3, S4, and three fixed cam rails 107, 109and 111 located between stations S1, S2, S3 and S4. Each Geneva wheel isgenerally square with slots 113 extending diagonally inward from itsfour corners, and is fixed on its respective shaft in register with theplatform on the shaft.

As the conveyor 91 is indexed to carry the platforms from station tostation, the slot 113 at the upper righthand corner (as viewed in FIG.8) of the Geneva wheel which was at station SB interengages with thefirst pin 99, and this causes this wheel and the respective platform torotate 45 to the position shown for the Geneva wheel at station S1. Theupper corner of the Geneva wheel which was at station S1 engages thetrailing end of cam rail 107 and this rotates this Geneva wheel and therespective platform 45. The slot in the wheel which then lies at theupper right-hand corner of the wheel interengages with the second pin101 and this causes the wheel and the respective platform to rotateanother 45, bringing the wheel into the position shown at station S2.The upper corner of the Geneva wheel which was at station S2 engages thetrailing end of cam rail 109 and this rotates this wheel and therespective platform 45. The slot in the wheel which then lies at theupper right-hand corner of the wheel interengages with the third pin 103and this causes the wheel and the respective platform to rotate another45, bringing the wheel into the position shown at station S3. The uppercorner of the Geneva wheel which was at station S3 engages the trailingend of cam rail 111 and this rotates this wheel and the respectiveplatform 45. The slot in the wheel which then lies at the upperright-hand corner of the wheel interengages with the fourth pin 105 andthis causes the wheel and the respective platform to rotate another 45,bringing the wheel into the position shown at station S4. The wheelwhich was at station S4 is rotated 45 by reason of the interengagementof the pin 105 in the slot at the upper corner of this wheel, thusbringing it to its squared-off loading position. Guides indicated at 115are provided for guiding the Geneva wheels in their squared-off loadingposition from station SA to station SB and for some distance paststation SB.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 6-8 includes four collectors 11a, 11b, 11cand 11d for arresting packages of the four columns A-1-A4 and formingthe packages into fans. Each of these four collectors corresponds tocollector 11 previously described. Collector 11a is lined up withstation S1, collector 11b is lined up with station S2, collector islined up with station S3, and collector 110! is lined up with stationS4. Transfer of the fans arrested in the collectors to the containers onthe platforms at stations S1S4 may be effected by means of the typeshown in FIGS. 1-3 or by means of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.Whichever type of transfer means is used, the operation involves theformation of a first group of four fans of packages, one in each of thefour collectors 11a- 11d. With the conveyor 91 dwelling at rest, thefans formed in the four collectors 11a11a' are transferred to the fourcontainers C on the four platforms 25a at stations 51-84. The transferof all four fans occurs substantially simultaneously. After thetransfer, the conveyor is indexed to carry the container which was atstation S1 to station S2, to carry the container which was at station S2to station S3, to carry the container which was at station S3 to S4, andto bring an empty container to station S1. The container brought tostation- S1 is oriented by the Geneva wheel indexing means into thediagonal position for receiving a first fan. The container moving fromstation S1 to S2 is indexed 90, the container moving from station S2 toS3 is indexed another 90, and the container moving from station S3 to S4is indexed another 90.

Considering the operation as it applies to one container, the first stepis the placement of this container on a platform 25a at station SA orSB. Then, on the next indexing step of the conveyor 91 or the next twoindexing steps of the conveyor, the container reaches station S1 and isdiagonally oriented as appears in FIG. 6. A fan formed in collector 11ais deposited in the container, the apex of the fan being located in thatcorner of the diagonally disposed container away from the conveyor 1a.Then, conveyor 91 is indexed to carry the container, with the first fantherein, to station 82, and to rotate the container 90. This brings asecond corner of the container into position to receive the apex of afan. Then, a second fan formed in collector S2. is deposited in thecontainer with its apex at the second corner of the container. Then,conveyor 91 is indexed to carry the container, with the first and secondfans therein, to station S3, and to rotate the container another 90.This brings a third corner of the container into position to receive theapex of a fan. Then, a third fan formed in collector S3 is deposited inthe container with its apex at the third corner of the container. Then,conveyor 91 is indexed to carry the container, with the first, secondand third fans therein, to station S4, and to rotate the containeranother 90. This brings the fourth and final corner of the containerinto position to receive the apex of a fan. Then, a fourth fan formed incollector 11d is deposited in the container with its apex at the fourthcorner of the container. This completes the packing of the container,and the packed container is taken off.

FIG. 9 illustrates .a further modification of the above in whichpackages P are fed forward in a single column of three rows by aconveyor 1 as in FIGS. 1 and 4, and collected in a collector 11 to forma single fan, as in FIGS. 1 and 4, and transferred to containers C onplatforms 25b carried by and rotating around with a rotary turret 121which corresponds essentially to the turret indicated at 41 in theaforesaid copending application Ser. No. 268,265. At 123 is indicated .arotary plate of the turret (corresponding to the plate 55 shown in Ser.No. 268,265) and at 125 are indicated frames which extend radiallyoutward from plate 55 and which carry rails 127 (corresponding to frames57 and rails 65 shown in Ser. No. 268,265). The platforms 25b (whichcorrespond to platforms on tables 69 shown in Ser. No. 268,265) arecarried by carriages such as shown at 67 in Ser. No. 268,265 forrotation about their central vertical axes, and are indexa-ble through90 intervals about their axes in the same manner as shown in Ser. No.268,265, the arrangement being such that each platform, rotating aroundwith the turret, passes through a loading station indicated at 129 inFIG. 9 adjacent the leading end of the conveyor 1 and aligned with thecollector 11 and, after passing through station 129, is indexed 90 onits own axis.

Thus, considering the operation of the FIG. 9 apparatus as regards thepacking of a container C on given platforms 2512, when this container(carn'ed by the platform 25b and rotating around with the turret) passesthrough station 129, a first fan F is transferred from collector intothe container with the apex of the fan at a first corner of thecontainer. This transfer may be affected by means of the type shown inFIGS. 1-3 or by means of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Then, as thecontainer makes a second circuit around with the turret, it is indexed90 to bring the second corner of the container into position for loadingof a second fan into the container with the apex of the second fan atthe second corner of the container. Then, as the container makes a thirdcircuit around with the turret, it is indexed 90 to bring its thirdcorner into position for loading of a third fan into the container withthe apex of the third fan at the third corner. Finally, as the containermakes a fourth circuit around with the turret, it is indexed 90 to bringits fourth corner into position for loading of a fourth fan int-o thecontainer at the fourth corner of the container, and the container, nowpacked with four fans, is taken off the platform and a fresh containerput on the platform.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above cons'tructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for packing tetrahedron-shaped packages in multicorneredcontainers with the packages arranged in each container in sets eachshaped like a fan, each package comprising a tube having seals at itsend with these end seals at right angles to one another, each setconsisting of a plurality of packages with one end seal of each packagein the set at the apex of the fan and the other end seals of thepackages in the fan constituting the outer edge of the fan, and withsaid fans positioned in the container overlying one another with theirapexes at diflferent corners of the container, said apparatus comprisingmeans for feeding packages forward in a predetermined generallyhorizontal path with the packages lined up in rows extend inglongitudinally with respect to the direction of feed and with the endseals at the leading ends of the packages upright, means engageable bythe packages as they are fed forward by said feeding means for arrestingpackages, one from each row, and forming the packages into a fan, andmeans for effecting transfer to a container of each fan after formationthereof by said arresting means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding meanscomprises an endless belt conveyor having an upper generally horizontalreach on which said packages rest to be fed forward.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arresting meanscomprises a V-shaped collector overlying said upper reach of theconveyor and arranged with its apex toward the leading end of said upperreach.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer meanscomprises means for gripping and picking up a fan from the arrestingmeans and depositing the fan in said container.

'5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arresting means ismounted for movement between a working position wherein it is engageableby the packages being fed forward and a retracted position clear of aformed fan, and said transfer means comprises means for moving thearresting means to retracted position for forward movement of the fan bysaid feeding means for delivery of the fan to said container.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means for indexing thecontainer to bring different corners of the container into position forreception of fans of packages.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means for successivelypresenting a series of containers for reception of fans of packages.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a single arresting means anda single transfer means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 having a single container carrierfor mounting a single container for being packed with fans, and meansfor indexing said container carrier to bring different corners of thecontainer into positionfor reception of fans of packages.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 having a series of containercarriers for mounting a plurality of containers for being packed withfans, means for moving said series successively to present containers ata loading station, and means for indexing said container carriers tobring different corners of the container into position for reception offans of packages at said loading station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,125 10/1959 Jarund 53-1423,031,821 5/1962 Erwin 53-142 X 3,282,024 11/1966 Anderson 53-247 TRAVISS. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR PACKING TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES IN MULTICORNEREDCONTAINERS WITH THE PACKAGES ARRANGED IN EACH CONTAINER IN SETS EACHSHAPED LIKE A FAN, EACH PACKAGE COMPRISING A TUBE HAVING SEALS AT ITSENDS WITH THESE END SEALS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER, EACH SETCONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF PACKAGES WITH ONE END SEAL OF EACH PACKAGEIN THE SET AT THE APEX OF THE FAN AND THE OTHER END SEALS OF THEPACKAGES IN THE FAN CONSTITUTING THE OUTER EDGE OF THE FAN, AND WITHSAID FANS POSITIONED IN THE CONTAINER OVERLYING ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIRAPEXES AT DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE CONTAINER, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISINGMEANS FOR FEEDING PACKAGES FORWARD IN A PREDETERMINED GENERALLYHORIZONTAL PATH WITH THE PACKAGES LINED UP IN ROWS EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF FEED AND WITH THE ENDSEALS AT THE LEADING ENDS OF THE PACKAGES UPRIGHT, MEANS ENGAGEABLE BYTHE PACKAGES AS THEY ARE FED FORWARD BY SAID FEEDING MEANS FOR ARRESTINGPACKAGES, ONE FROM EACH ROW, AND FORMING THE PACKAGES INTO A FAN, ANDMEANS FOR EFFECTING TRANSFER TO A CONTAIER OF EACH FAN AFTER FORMATIONTHEREOF BY SAID ARRESTING MEANS.